Coating machine



July 18, 1944. J. H. GORDON, JR, ET AL 3,

COATING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l $1 M ATTORNEYS y 9 J. H. GORDON, JR, ETAL COATING MACHINE Filed June 10 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E E o H m mi/m f l A y 1944. J. H. GORDON, JR., ET AL 2,353,721

COATING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1941 S'Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 18, 1944 COATING MACHINE James H. Gordon, Jr., Geneva, N. Y., and Victor T. Grover, Maplewood, N. J., assignorsqi American Can Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New Jersey Application June 10, 1941, Serial No. 397,486

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to that class of coating machines in which the articles to be coated are dipped into the coating material and then are allowed to drain and has particular reference to timing the draining period to control the quantity of coating material which remains on the article and to indicate over-drained or thinly coated articles so that they may be discarded.

In the manufacture of certain kinds of containers, such as for example, those made of fibre material "and the like, the containers are immersed into a bath of coating material and then allowed to drain for a predetermined period of time in accordance with the viscosity of the material so that a film of a desired thickness of the coating material will remain on the container after such drainage period. Where these coating and draining operations are performed by high speed mechinery, frequent stops in the travel of the containers through the machines are sometimes experienced because of container jams or the stopping and starting of other machines used in conjunction with the coating machines.

When the coating machine stops, even momentarily, the containers being drained may remain in the draining section of the machine for a longer period than required. Hence a greater quantity of the coating material will be drained off of these containers and the resultant film n the containers will be of a reduced thickness. Such thinning of the coating film on a container is often intolerable where high standards of quality are involved and thus such a container being below standard is rendered useless.

The instant invention contemplates the sorting out of such over-drained containers and the marking or otherwise designating of them so that upon inspection they may be readily detected and discarded to the end that they will be prevented from entering the regular channels incident to commercial use.

An object therefore of the invention is the provision in a coating machine of the character in which articles are clipped and drained, of devices wherein overdrained articles are singled out and specially indicated as such so that they may be readily detected and discarded to prevent their further use as commercial articles.

Another object is the provision in such a machine, of devices which begin to operate only at the termination of operation of the machine so that articles remaining in the draining secton of the machine "n excess of a predetermined draining section of the machine and register the article as over-drained when the accumulated delays equal or exceed a predetermined amount in a required period of time so that such registered articles may be discarded from use.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a coating machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away and other parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a continuation toward the left of the apparatus illustrated in that figure;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are transverse vertical sectional views taken substantially along the respective lines 4--4, 5-5, 6-5 in Fig. 3 and showing the draining of a container, with parts broken away; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged perspective schematic view showing principal mechanical and electrical parts of the machine with an overdrained coated article in place, the view including a wiring diagram of the electric apparatus used in the machine.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawings illustrate principal parts of a coating machine for applying a film of coating material of a predetermined thickness onto fibre milk containers A (Fig. '7) of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979, issued July 6, 1937, to J. M. Hothersall.

Such a container is referably of square crosssection and is provided in its top end with a dispensing opening adapted after filling to be closed with a hingedly attached closure element B. The entire inside and outside surfaces of the container are preferably coated with molten paraffin wax.

In the machine the containers A enter in a horizontal position by way of a curved runway ll (Fig. 2). The containers are propelled along this runway in spaced and timed order by a rotating star wheel l2 which may be revolved in any suitable manner. Adjacent the terminal end of the runway, the entering containers A are picked up by an endless chain coating conveyor I3 having pockets in cradles I4 in which the containers are received.

The conveyor l3 operates over spaced sprockets l6 located adjacent the ends of the machine. The containers are carried along the lower run of the conveyor and guide rails l'I, disposed adjacent the path of travel of this run, confine the containers in the cradle pockets. The containers enter the machine with their closure elements B in an open condition and theyeare maintained in this condition by a guide rail l8 against which they engage and along which they slide.

The lower run of the conveyor l3 carries the containers down into a bath of the moilten paraffln wax contained in a reservoir 2| disposed adjacent the conveyor. In passing through this bath the containers are completely submerged and the closure element is still held open so that the liquid wax will flow into the container filling the same and completely covering it inside surfaces as.

well as the outside.

At the far end of the reservoir 2| the conveyor carries the containers up out of the wax bath and over the sprocket l6 at that end of the machine so that th wax filled containers will be on the top run of the conveyor. The guide rails l1 and closure element rail [8 extend parallel with the conveyor to maintain the containers properly in the conveyor pockets.

In moving along the upper run of the conveyor I3, the container are first tilted endwise into an inverted position as shown in Figs. 4, and 6, so that all the excess wax within the containers will drain out. Farther along the conveyor, the containers are tilted back through their horizontal position into an upright position with their open closure elements up, as shown in Fig. 1. This tilting of the containers may be efiected in any suitable manner such as by a twisting of the guide rails.

At the termination of the upper run of the conveyor I! the coated and drained containers are picked up by a turret 25 (Fig. 1) which rotates in time with the coating conveyor. This turret carries the containers through a curved path of travel and transfers them into an auxiliary or cooling conveyor 26 which operates over a pair of spaced horizontal sprockets 21, only one of which is illustrated in Fig. 1.

The sprockets 21 are located adjacent the opposite ends of the machine and are rotated in any suitable manner in time with the turret 25 and coating conveyor l3. Thi auxiliary conveyor carries the containers through a cooling section 28 of the machine in which the applied coating on the containers is set hard.

The conveyor i operated at a predetermined speed which is based on the viscosity of the liquid wax, so that the time it takes a container to traverse the length of the upper run of the conveyor, such will be the correct time required to properly drain the container. This predetermined period is calculated to leave a film of wax of a desired thickness on the surfaces of the container.

As long as the machine remains in full operation the timing of the draining period will be correct and will be maintained. However, if the machin stops or momentarily ceases operation, a timing mechanism is set in motion to time the passage of the containers along the conveyor i3.

In the present case by way of example, the normal draining period of the containers is thirty seconds and a leeway of ten seconds more is figured as being permissible before they will be considered as over-drained containers. Thus if the machine shops for a ten second period in thirty seconds, certain of the containers on the conveyor will be over-drained and such should be marked for discarding. If the machine stops only mementarily, the time periods consumed by these momentary stops are added together andif in any thirty second period the accumulated stops amount to as much as ten seconds, certain of the containers will be c'onsldered-over-drained and these also should be marked for discarding.

The established timing of the container draining period is preferably effected by electric apparatus connecting with an electric motor 35 which preferably is the main driving element of the coating machine. The electric apparatus is also connected with a normally deenergized eilectric solenoid 36. The motor and the solenoid are schematically shown in the wiring diagram of Fig. 7. The solenoid is formed with a movable core 38 which is connected to the outer end of an arm 39 mounted on a pivot shaft 4| carried in a bearing 42 in the machine main frame.

The pivot shaft 4| also carries an arm 43 which is disposed adjacent the outer edge of a timing disc 44. This timing disc is carried on the outer end of the coating conveyor sprocket shaft. The disc, the arm connection with the solenoid, and the solenoid itself are housed in a casing 45 (Fig. 1) which is secured to the machine main frame adjacent the sprocket shaft.

The timing disc 44 carries a plurality of frictionally held timing pins 5| which are spaced around the disc adjacent its outer periphery. Thes pinsnormally project from the back of the disc and move past the arm 43 as the disc revolves.

When the machine stops, the solenoid 36 is energized and this moves its core 38 in the direction of the arrow. Shifting of the solenoid core rocks the arm 43 against the adjacent pin 5| in the timing disc 44 and thus pushes the pin forwardly so that it projects from the front of the disc. The disc rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 and thus the projected pin is carried downwardly into engagement with and momentarily depresses an actuating pin 54 of a movable switch contact 55. The switch contact before such movement engages with a stationary upper contact 58 of an electric switch 51. The actuating pin is slidably carried in a boss 58 on the machine frame.

Depression of the actuating pin 54 shifts the contact of switch 51 into engagement with a stationary lower contact SI and this deenergizes a normally energized container marking or indicating solenoid 64. This closing of the contacts 55, El andthe deenergizing of the solenoid B4 is effected a predetermined length of time after the timing pin 5! has been pushed in so that the over-drained container in the meantime will be brought into a position where it can be operated upon to better advantage.

A movable core 05 of the solenoid 64 is connected with a pivot arm 66 mounted on a pivot shaft 61 carried in bearings 68 (see Fig. 1) of a bracket 69 secured to the machine frame adjacent the turret 25. The inner end of the pivot arm 66 carries an elongated shoe II which extends across and above the path of travel of the opened closure elements on the containers as they enter the turret.

When the solenoid 64 is deenergized and the pivot arm is rocked, the shoe H is moved down against the closure element of the passing over-drained container. Thus the closure element is closed down tight over the filling opening in the container and the container is thus indicated as an over-drained container. Upon inspection it is apparent at once that there is a closed container when normally such a container is open, and therefore such is discarded. If desired, the container can be otherwise marked such as by imprinting a mark thereon or by mutilating the container so that inspection will readily show that the container should be discarded.

If the electric motor 35 starts and stops in rapid succession, an accumulator mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 15 (Fig. 7) is brought into play to sum up or accumulate the short idle periods preparatory to energizing the pin-setting solenoid 38 as hereinbefore explained. This accumulator mechanism includes a timing motor 16 and an auxiliary timing motor 11. The rotor shaft of the timing motor 16 carries an edge cam 18 having a high spot 18 and an edge cam 8| having a low spot 82.

The rotor shaft of the auxiliary timing motor 11 carries a clutch 85, an edge cam 86 having a high spot 81 and an edge cam 88 having a low spot 88. The shaft also carries a drum 8| having secured thereto a wire 82 which is connected to one end of a tension spring 83. The other end of the spring is secured to a block 84 on the main frame of the machine. The spring normally maintains the rotor shaft of the motor 11 in a predetermined position which is established by engagement of a pin 86 in the cam 88, with a stop 81 on the machine main frame. The clutch 85 is actuated by a pivotally mounted arm I8I which is connected to the outer end of a movable core I82 01; a normally deenergized clutch solenoid I83.

Referring again to the wiring diagram in Fig. '1 it will be seen that electric energy f r the operation of the various electric motors and solenoids used in the machine is transmitted preferably from a generator I85 having connected thereto a main lead wire I88 and a return lead wire I81. This electric energy is transmitted to the machine motor 35 by way of a wire III which connects with the main lead wire I86, a normally open switch II2, wires H3, H4, motor 35, and a wire II which connects with the return wire I81. When the switch 2 is closed. electric energy flows along this circuit and excites the motor 35 which in turn operates the machine.

Electric energy flowing along this motor circuit also energizes a relay solenoid N8 of a relay switch I I8 having a double set of contact switches I2I, I22, mounted on a movable core I23. The solenoid is connected by a wire I24 to the motor wire 3 and by a wire I25 to the generator return wire I81. Energy flowing along this relay circuit energizes the solenoid I I8 and thus maintains the contact switches I2 I, I22 normally open.

Stopping of the machine for any reason s effected by opening the main switch 2. Whenever this switch is opened the motor circuit is broken, the motor thus stops and the machine ceases operation. Opening of the switch also breaks the relay circuit and thus deenergizes the relay solenoid 8. This closes the contact switches I2I, I22.

Closing of the contact switch I2I establishes a time delay circuit which includes a time delay solenoid I21 having a movable core I28. One end of the core carries a delay contact swtch I28 while the other end carries a plunger I-H of a dash pot or the like time delay device I32. The time delay solenoid I21 is connected by a wire I35 to the generator lead wire I06 and by a wire I36 and a wire I31 to one of the stationary elements of the contact switch 2|. The other stationary element of the contact switch |2| is connected by a wire I38 to the generator return wire I81.

Hence closing 01' the contact switch I2I completes the time delay circuit and electric energy flowing along the circuit energizes the time delay solenoid I21. Energizing of this solenoid shifts its movable core I28 to close the time delay switch I28. However, this closing of the switch I28 is not immediate because of the dash pot device I 32. This dash pot device is set under certain conditions to delay the closing of the switch for ten seconds. It is this dash pot device that times the draining of the containers in the coating conveyor I3, as hereinbefore de scribed.

If the motor switch 2 closes and restarts the motor and the machine before the ten second period has elapsed, the relay solenoid H8 is energized again and the contact switch I2I is opened. This breaks thetime delay circuit and .the delay solenoid I21 thereupon is deenergized.

The plunger |3| of the dash pot I32 thus returns to its original position in the pot before the delay switch I28 closes and thus it is ready for a subsequent operation. Such a lapsing of the ten second time period is in effect an indication that the containers have not been over drained and that they are suitable for commercial use.

However, if the machine remains stopped long enough to permit the dash pot I32 to operate for its total ten second period, the delay switch I29 closes at the end of the period and thus a new circuit that includes the pin-setting solenoid 36, is established. Closing of the delay switch I28 permits electric energy to flow along a, wire |4| which connects with the generator return wire I81, through the closed time delay switch I28. alon a connecting wire I42 and a wire I43, through the pin-setting solenoid 36, and thence by a wire I44 back to the generator lead wire I86. The solenoid is thus energized and its core 38 is actuated to rock the arms 39. 43 and thus set the adjacent pin 5| in the disc 44, as hereinbefore explained.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the pin-set solenoid 36 is also energized to set one or more pins 5| in the disc 44 when the machine starts and stops in such rapid succession that it is idle for ten seconds in any period of thirty seconds. It will be remembered that this is brought about by the accumula or device 15 which is set in motion by the closing of the contact switches I 2|, I22 when the machine motor 35 stops. An explanation of the operation of this accumulator device 15 and its cooperating circuits will now be given.

When the contac switch I22 closes by the energization of the relay switch I I8, a circuit is established which includes the timing motor 16 and the clutch solenoid I83. This circuit comprises a wire |5| which connects with the generator return wire I81, the closed contac switch I22, 9. wire I52 which is connected to a movab'e contact I53 of a normally ooen cam switch I54. The movable contact normally enga es in the l w spot 82 in the periphery of the ed e cam 8|. The contact is connected by a w re I56 to one side of an armature I 51 of the timing motor 16. The other side of the armature is connected by a wire I58 to the generator lead wire I86.

Electric energy flowing along this circu t excites the timin motor 16 and thus sets it in operation. This starts the cams 18, 8| rotat ng. As soon as the cam 8| begins rotating, the movable contact I53 of cam switch I54 rides out or the low spot 82 in the cam and thus closes the switch by bringing the movable contact against a stationary contact I6I.

Closing of the cam switch I54 establishes a holding circuit for the timing motor 16 and this holding circuit maintains the motor circuit and clutch circuit in operation for a period of thirty seconds, the-length of time required for a complete rotation of the cam 8|, even though the machine again starts up and thus opens the contact switch I22. This holding circuit cuts out the contact switch I22 and transmits electric energy direct from the generator return wire I01 to the timing motor 16 by way of a wire I53, through the closed contacts I6I, I53 of the cam switch I54, and thus along the connecting wire I56 to the timing motor 16.

The clutch circuit is established simultaneously with the timing motor circuit. Electric energy for this circuit flows from the generator return wire I01 along wire II, closed contact switch I22, wire I52 to the movable contact I53 of the cam switch I54, and then follows a connecting wire I65 to the clutch solenoid I03, through the solenoid and thence along a wire I56 to the generator lead wire I05. Energy flowing along this circuit energizes the clutch solenoid I03 and thus draws its core I02 inwardly.

This rocks the clutch lever IOI and engages the friction plates of the clutch 85 on the rotor shaft of the auxiliary timing motor 11. This motor is not operating at this time. However, the clutch solenoid when once energized is maintained in this condition by the holding circuit of the timing motor 16 for a period of thirty seconds, the time required for one complete rotation of the cam 8|.

If the machine stops and restarts one or more times during this period of thirty seconds, the auxiliary timing motor 11 starts up each time the machine stops and the motor continues operating for as long as the machine is idle. Starting of the auxiliary timing motor is eflected by the closing of the normally open contact switch I2 I' which it will be remembered closes every time the machine stops operating.

When this contact switch I2I closes, electric energy is transmitted from the generator return wire I01, along wire I38, closed contact switch I2I, wire I31 to a stationary contact "I or a normally closed cam switch I12 having a movable contact I13 which rides on the periphery of the edge cam 88 on the rotor shaft of the auxiliary timing motor 11. The current passes through this closed cam switch I12, and flows along a wire I14, through an armature I15 of the auxiliary timing motor 11, and thence passes along wire I58 to the generator lead wire I06. Energy flowing along this circuit excites'the auxiliary timing motor to rotation and thus through the closed clutch 85, rotates the edge cams 86, 86 and the drum 9f.

The cycle of rotation of the auxiliary timing motor 11 is ten seconds and if the accumulation of the short stop and start or idle periods of the machine equals ten seconds during the thirty second time period of the timing motor, the auxiliary timing motor completes its cycle and thus establishes the pin-setting solenoid circuit to energize the pin-setting solenoid 36 and thus set one or more of the pins 5| in the timing disc 44 to designate the containers which were overdrained during the frequent stopping and restarting of the machine.

Each time the auxiliary timing motor 11 rotates, it revolves the edge cam 88, 88 through a portion or a rotation. When the motor stops, the cams remain in their advanced position until the next time the motor starts and then they are further rotated. Each time the cams 88, 88 are rotated the drum 8I is also rotated and thus winds the wire 82 a little further around the drum against the resistance of the spring 83. When the cam 86 has revolved far enough to complete its cycle of ten seconds, its high spot 81 engages a movable contact I8I of a normally open cam switch I82 and thus closes this switch. At the same time themovable contact I13 01 cam switch I12 falls into the low spot 68 of edge cam 88 and this opens the switch I12. This breaks the auxiliary timing motor circuit and thus stops operation of the auxiliary timing motor 11.

A stationary contact I83 of the cam switch I82 connects with the wire I43 which leads to the pinsetting solenoid 36. The movable contact I8I of the cam switch is connected by a wire I85 to a movable contact I86 which rides on the periphery of the timing motor edge cam 18. This movable contact is part oi a normally open cam switch 181 having a stationary contact I88 which is connected by a wire I89 to the wire I63.

Hence just before the timing motor 15 completes its cycle period of thirty seconds, the high spot 19 of the edge cam 18 closes the cam switch I01 and if at the same time the cam switch I82 oi the auxiliary timing motor 11 is closed, a circuit is completed to the pin-setting solenoid. Electric energy then flows from the generator return wire I01, along wires I63, I89, closed cam switch I81, wire I85, closed cam switch I82, and thence along wire I43 to the pin-setting solenoid.

When the timing motor 16 completes its cycle of thirty seconds and the movable element I85 of cam switch I81 rides of! the high spot 19 on cam 18, the low spot 82 or cam 8| comes adjacent the movable contact I53 oi the cam switch I54 and thereby opens the latter switch. This breaks the timing motor holding circuit and hence the timing motor stops rotating and remains ready for the start of a new cycle.

Breaking of the timing motor holding circuit also breaks the clutch solenoid circuit and this deenergizes the clutch solenoid I03. De-energizing of the clutch solenoid rocks the clutch lever IOI away from the clutch 85 and thereby releases the cams 86, 88 from the auxiliary timing motor 11. The tension spring 93 thereupon pulls on the wire 92 around the drum 9| and thus reversely rotates the cams into their original position. The pin in cam 88 strikes against the stop 91 when the cams are fully returned and thus holds them ready for a new cycle. This completes the operation of the accumulating mechanism 15.

As hereinbeiore mentioned when a container is over-drained and a pin 5I in the rotating disc 44 is set," the pin through suitable electric circuits, de-energizes the marking or indicating device solenoid 54 when the container arrives adjacent the marking or indicating device and this closes the closure element B on the container. Normally the marking device solenoid 54 is maintained in an energized condition by electric energy which flows from the generator lead wire I05, along a connecting wire I9I, the solenoid 54, a wire I92, a normally closed switch I93 of a double contact relay I94, and thence by a wire I95 to the generator return wire I01.

Breaking of this marking device solenoid circuit is effected by opening of the switch I93 and -determined period of time.

this is done by the "set" pin 5| in the rotating disc 44. The set pin 5| engages against and depresses the actuating pin 54 of switch 51. The movable contact 55 of the switch is pressed down against the stationary contact 5| and this establishes a circuit which includes the double contact relay I94;

Electric energy flows along this new circuit by way of a wire 20I which connects with the generator return wire I01, the closed switch contacts 55, a wire 202, a normally closed contact switch 203, a wire 204, a solenoid 205 of the relay I94, and thence by way of a wire 201 back to the generator lead wire I05. The energy flowing along this circuit energizes the relay solenoid 205 and thus opens the contact switch 93.

Simultaneously with the opening of the contact switch I93, a second normally open contact switch 209 of the relay I94 is closed to establish a holding circuit to maintain the marking'device solenoid 04 in a de-energized condition for a pre- With the contact switch 209 closed, energy flows from the generator lead wire I05, along the wire 201, relay solenoid 205, wire 204, closed contact switch 203, a connecting wire 2| I, closed switch 209, and wire 2|2 back to the generator return wire I01.

Usually when the machine stops longer than a ten second period more than one container will be over-drained and hence all of those which are over-drained must be indicated for discard. It is for this reason that the holding circuit just described is provided. The duration of the holding circuit period is preferably the length of time it takes the disc 44 to make one half a revolution. Thus one half a revolution after a set pin closes the switch contacts 55, 5| of switch 51, the pin comes into engagement with an auxiliary actuating pin 2I5 which connects with the movable contact of the switch 203.

The auxiliary actuating pin 2|5 is disposed in a boss 2|5 formed on the machine frame. Engagement of this pin opens the switch 203 and thereby breaks the holding circuit. This de-energizes the relay solenoid 205 of relay I94 and thus opens switch 209 and closes switch I93. Closing of switch I93 reestablishes the marking device solenoid circuit and thus the solenoid 64 is reenergized. The shoe 1| thereupon rises out of the path of travel of the container closure elements and the containers continue on through the machine with its closure elements in normally open position.

After engaging the auxiliary actuating pin pin 2|5 of switch 203, the set" pin 5| continues on with the rotation of the disc 44 and comes into engagement with a tapered reset" cam block 2 I8. This cam block is stationary and is secured to a boss 2 I 9 on the machine main frame. As the pin 5| passes this cam block it rides against the tapered surface on the cam and is thereby pushed back into its original position. This completes the cycle of a pin 5I.

Under normal operating conditions only one pin 5| will be set" or pushed out for each ten second period of machine stoppage. However, under certain conditions where the machine stops and starts in rapid succession more than one pin 5| may he "sets" It is then necessary to push all but the last set pin back into its original position immediately after they have en gaged the actuating pin 54, otherwise the switch 203 will be opened by the first "set pin instead of the last and the relay switch I94 will not maintain the holding circuit long enough to insure closing of the closure elements on all the containers which have been over-drained.

The early "resetting of the pins 5| is brought about by a curved wing 22 which is located ad- Jacent the disc 44 in spaced relation thereto and extends along the path of travel of the pins 5| as they move from the actuating pin 54 to the auxiliary actuating pin 2I5. This wing 222 is formed on an arm 233 which is mounted on a vertical shaft 224 carried in a bearing 225 of the machine frame. The shaft also carries a lever 225 which at its outer end is pivotally connected to a movable core 221 of a normally energized reset solenoid 228. The reset" solenoid is connected by a wire 23I to the generator lead wire I05, and by a wire 232 to the stationary contact 55 of the switch 51.

Under normal operation of the machine the movable contact 55 of switch 51 is in engagement with the stationary contact 50. Electric energy then flows from the generator lead wire I05, along wire 23I, reset solenoid 220, wir'e 232, contacts 55, 55, and wire 20| to the generator return wire I01. This energy maintains the solenoid in an energized condition.

However, every time the actuating pin 54 is engaged by a pin 5|, the movable contact 55 is momentarily shifted away from the contact 55 and this breaks the reset circuit. The solenoid 228 becomes de-energized and this permits an enclosed spring in the solenoid casing to shift the core 221 and the arms 225, 233 and thus swing the wing 222 inwardly against the disc 44. Any set pins 5| that are in the path of the wing are thus pushed back into their original position wherfsthey will not engage the auxiliary actuating pin2 Since the breaking of the solenoid circuit is only momentary the solenoid is immediately reenergized and the wing 222 is thus shifted away from the disc 44. Thus it will be only the last set pin 5| which will remain set" and this pin will by-pass or clear the wing 222 and thus control the duration of the holding circuit period.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. In a machine for coating containers, including means for applying liquid coating material onto a container, the combination of a runway for receiving and supporting coated containers so that excess coating material will drain oil, a conveyor for propelling the draining containers along said runway at a predetermined speed so that they will be drained a predetermined amount upon traversing a predetermined length of said runway, means for moving said conveyor, means controlled by said conveyor moving means and operable when said conveyor temporarily stops for timing the total of idle periods of the conveyor to determine when the sum of such idle periods equals a predetermined period of time in excess of which a container traversing the runway is overdrained, and means operable by said timing means when the predetermined period of time is thus totaled for operating upon overdrained containers to designate such containers as over-drained, so that they may be readily detected upon visual inspection and discarded.

2. In a machine for coating containers, wherein means are provided for applying liquid coating material onto a container, the combination of a conveyor for propelling th coated containers along a predetermined path of travel to allow them to drain for a predetermined period of time so that the resulting film of coating material remaining on the container will be of a predetermined thickness, an electric motor for driving said conveyor, electrical means operable when said motor temporarily stops for determining when the idle period of said motor exceeds the draining period of the containers being propelled by the conveyor, means for engaging over-drained containers to alter their physical appearance so that they may be readily detected, and electromechanical means operable by said electrical means for actuating said container engaging means.

3. In a machine for coating containers, wherein means are provided for applying liquid coating material onto a container, the combination of a conveyor for propelling the coated containers along a predetermined path of travel to allow them to drain for a predetermined period of time so that the resulting film of coating material remaining on the container will be of a predetermined thickness, an electric motor for driving said conveyor, electrical timing means operable when said motor temporarily stops and continuing in operation for a predetermined period of time even though said motor again starts for spacing oil a limited draining cycle in excess of which the containers 'being propelled by the conveyor are over-drained, electrical accumulator means operable when said draining cycle begins and concurrently operable when the motor stops and starts for timing the total of idle periods of the motor, electro-mechanical means operable by said accumulator means when the total idle periods of the motor exceed a predeter mined amount during one draining cycle, and means operable by said electro-mechanical means for engaging and altering the appearance of overdrained containers so that they may be readily detected upon inspection and discarded.

4. In a machine for coating containers, wherein means are provided for applying liquid coating material onto a container, the combination of a conveyor for propelling the coated containers along a predetermined path of travel to allow them to drain for a predetermined period of time so that the resulting film of coating material remaining on the container will be of a'predetermined thickness, an electric motor for driving said conveyor, electrical means operable when said motor temporarily stops for determining when the idle period of said motor exceeds the draining period of the containers being propelled by the conveyor, electrical accumulator means operable when said motor stops and starts in rapid succession for timing the total of idle periods of the motor to determine when a container is overdrained, an electric solenoid operable by said electrical means and by said accumulator means, means responsive to the operation of said solenoid .for engaging and altering the physical appearance or overdrained containers so that they may be readily detected for discarding, a rotatable time delay disc, a plurality of push pins in said disc for actuating said container engaging means when the over-drained containers are moved adiacent thereto, and means for setting said push pins to actuate said container engaging means.

5. In a machine for coating containers, said machine including means for applying liquid coating material onto a container and means for draining the coated container for a predetermined period of time, the combination oi electricalmeans associated with said draining means for determining when a container is over-drained, and means actuated by said electrical means for operating on over-drained containers so that they may be readily detected and discarded.

6. In a machine for coating containers, including means for applying liquid coating material onto a container, the combination of a runway for receiving and supporting coated containers so that excess coating material will drain off, a conveyor for propelling the draining containers along said runway at a predetermined speed so that they will be drained a predetermined amount upon traversing a predetermined length of said runway, timing means operable when said conveyor temporarily stops for determining when a container remains on said runway in excess of a predetermined period of time, and means actuated by said timing means for operating upon containers which have been over-drained to designate the containers as such, so that the overdrained containers may be readil detected by visual inspection.

7. In a machine for coating containers wherein means are provided for applying liquid coating material onto a container, the combination of a runway for receiving and supporting coated containers so that excess coating material will drain off, a conveyor for propelling the draining containers along said runway at a predetermined speed so that they will be drained a, predetermined amount upon traversing a predetermined length of said runway, timing means operable when said conveyor temporarily stops for determining when a container remains on said runway in excess of a predetermined period of time so as to become overdrained, means operable by said timing means for engaging and designating overdrained containers as such, so that they may be readily detected, and means for delaying the actuation of said container engaging means until th overdrained containers to be engaged and designated as such ,are movedadjacent said engaging means.

8. In a machine for coating containers wherein means are provided for applying liquid coating material onto a container, the combination of a runway for receiving and supporting coated containers so that excess coating material will drain off, a conveyor for propelling the draining containers along said runway at a predetermined speed so that they will be drained a predetermined amount upon traversing a predetermined length of said runway, timing means operable when said conveyor temporarily stops for determining when a container remains on said runway in excess of a predetermined period of time so as to become overdrained, means operable by said timing means for engaging and operating upon such overdrained containers so that they may be readily detected upon visual inspection as such: and thus discarded, and means for holding said container engaging means in container engaging position until all of the overdrained containers are operated upon and thus designated as overdrained.

JAMES H. GORDON, JR. VICTOR T. GROVER. 

